Charles Leclerc opened up about the lessons he learned from Lewis Hamilton during their first season together at Ferrari, explaining how working alongside the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion changed his approach to racing. Leclerc described a shift from relying on instinct to a more data-driven method, a transformation shaped by Hamilton’s meticulous preparation and discipline.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closed the first chapter of the Charles Leclerc-Lewis Hamilton pairing at Ferrari, a season in which results were far more skewed than initially expected when the Briton joined the Maranello squad. In a difficult year for the Scuderia, marked by a SF-25 lacking clear strengths and numerous missed opportunities, it was Charles Leclerc who carried the team’s results.
Statistics paint a clear picture: all seven of Ferrari’s podiums in 2025 were secured by Charles Leclerc, finishing the season nearly 90 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton—the largest margin the British driver has ever faced against a teammate in Formula 1. Even in qualifying, the 28-year-old from Monaco outperformed Lewis Hamilton in the majority of head-to-head sessions, while the 40-year-old from Stevenage managed to finish ahead in races only on rare occasions.
Yet despite the absence of a strong internal rivalry, the relationship between the two drivers proved productive. Charles Leclerc openly acknowledged the benefits of working alongside the most successful driver in F1 history. Speaking to L’Équipe, he explained how Lewis Hamilton’s presence influenced his working methods: “I learned a lot from Lewis, particularly in the way he works, how he analyses data, and which data he focuses on.” This represented a significant change from previous years, when Charles Leclerc admitted he relied more on instinct.
The key area of improvement, according to Charles Leclerc, has been tire management and qualifying preparation, where Lewis Hamilton demonstrated a near-obsessive discipline. The Monegasque driver noted: “Now, especially when it comes to bringing the tires up to temperature, I pay much more attention to numbers and data. Lewis is extremely diligent and precise during this window that allows the tires to perform at their best, particularly in qualifying.”
In a technically uncertain environment, with Ferrari often on the defensive, Charles Leclerc found this collaboration motivating. He added: “With his arrival, I had a lot to learn. Seeing him join the team was a huge motivation for me.” Importantly, The 28-year-old driver stressed he never felt overshadowed by Lewis Hamilton’s presence: “Lewis was a great help, and I never felt in his shadow.”
This quiet lesson, away from the media spotlight and controversy that accompanied Lewis Hamilton’s signing, highlights the most solid aspect of a season that both Ferrari and the British driver would rather leave behind. Looking ahead to 2026 and the fresh start mandated by new regulations, Charles Leclerc remains focused, echoing his post-Abu Dhabi sentiment: “It’s now or never.”
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